“Ack!” She tried to pull her hands away but he held on tight and spun her into a dance move.
He grinned when heads popped up over cubicle walls and others started to appear. Bailey and Phoebe both started dancing, then Dash and Hunter and Renzo joined them in what appeared to be a choreographed routine. He’d seen people do this at a club one night. “Flash mob,” he said to Sloane, who was apparently trying not to laugh as more people joined in.
When they song ended, laughter filled the office in place of the music, everyone smiling and breathing a little faster.
Joseph Huxworth reappeared, this time sans client. “Sloane,” he said. “I’ll see you in my office.”
Sloane’s smile slipped off her face and she tugged her dress down.
Shit.
Apparently Sloane wasn’t exaggerating The Hux’s request to tame down the Brew Crew’s antics.
Shit fuck shit.
“Okay, that was fun,” Sloane said calmly. “Back to work, everyone.”
Their eyes met and her mouth twisted.
“Fuck,” Levi said in a low voice. “I’m sorry.”
She lifted a shoulder and gave him a fake smile. “No worries.”
She disappeared, everyone went back to work, and even though he and Scott were still high from their brilliance, something gnawed at his gut. Worry. Concern for Sloane. Fear that he’d been the one to get her in trouble.
They were just dancing. Resentment bubbled inside him. Was this the kind of place he wanted to work? Did The Hux want to stifle all the creativity out of them because of how things looked to the client? He muttered curses under his breath as he tried to get his head back into a place where he could work on another Verhoeven brand.
He resisted the temptation to run to Sloane’s office every five minutes to see if she was back and make sure she was okay. He’d see her tonight. Right now they had jobs to do. She wanted to keep things on the down low there at work. He could do that.
Patience had never been one of his strengths but he made it through the day. He watched Sloane leave with Mason through narrowed eyes. Yeah, yeah, he knew they were just friends. He believed her. But Mason was having dinner with Sloane and he wasn’t.
Deadlines were creeping up on a couple of the campaigns. But hell, lots of time yet. He worked better under pressure so he wasn’t worried. He left the office at a decent hour, met up with Luke and Tucker for a beer and discussed what Jacob and Tara were probably doing on their honeymoon in London.
“Fucking,” Tucker said glumly. “Which I am not.”
“What happened to the bridesmaid you left with on Saturday night?” Luke said. “She was fucksome.”
“She was so drunk she passed out.”
“I hate it when that happens,” Levi said.
Luke and Tucker’s attention turned to him. “So what’s the deal with you and the sexy blonde?”
At that point, Levi realized that Sloane’s carpet—what little there was of it; maybe a rug?—definitely matched her drapes. Because…blonde.
What a dick he was.
No, he’d be a dick if he shared his thoughts out loud with his buddies.
“We’re dating,” he said.
“Yeah, we got that. She’s hot. She doesn’t look like a ball breaker.”
He rolled his eyes. “Because she’s not.”
“She’s into you big time.”
Levi perked up. “Really? Why do you say that?”
Tucker shrugged. “The way she looked at you. But then again, every chick looks at you that way.”
Levi raised his middle finger at his friend. “No, seriously. You think she is?”
They both gaped at him. “Dude,” Luke said slowly. “Are you…doubting yourself?”
Levi laughed. “Hahaha. No.”
It was Sloane he was doubting. She’d admitted she liked him. He liked her. A lot. They had fun together even when they weren’t in bed. Although most of their time together had been between the sheets. That was going to change. Only, not tonight. Or tomorrow night. But dammit, he was going to take her out on a date.
Tucker snapped his fingers in front of his face. “You still with us, man?”
Levi blinked. “Yeah.”
They both smirked at him. “Jesus. You got it bad for her, don’t you?”
Levi just shrugged and lifted his beer.
She arrived at his place shortly before nine that evening, still in the dress and heels she’d worn to work. He’d been sitting on the couch playing Xbox and the music from the game filled the condo. She joined him on the couch and he turned the volume down so it was background noise.